Herman Stern Papers, 1904-1979
Collection Overview
Title: Herman Stern Papers, 1904-1979
ID: OGLMC217
Primary Creator: Stern, Herman (1887-1980)
Extent: 25.25 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series:
Series 1: World War II
Series 2: Civic Organizations
Series 3: Business
Series 4: Other Materials
Series 5: Scrapbooks
Series 6: Photographs
Series 7: Audio Tapes
Series 8: Oral History
Subjects: Business and Industry, Holocaust, Military History - World War II (WW2), Religion - Jewish
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Hermann Stern was born August 9, 1887, in Oberbrechen, Germany, to Samuel Loeb Stern and Mina (Strauss) Stern. The Orthodox Jewish family was very poor, as Samuel Stern was forced to eke out a meager existence by selling slaughtered cattle to a paste factory. As the youngest of eight children, Hermann Stern worked odd jobs until 1901 when he apprenticed with a clothing merchant in Mainz. In 1902, Stern's uncle, Morris G. Straus, asked him to come to America and enter the clothing business. Straus had left Germany many years before and operated a successful clothing store in Casselton, North Dakota. Unable to receive permission from his employer, Stern quit his training and left for America. He arrived in New York City on October 10, 1903, and traveled to Casselton later that year.
In Casselton, Stern dropped the second "n" from his first name, and thrived in the business of men's clothing. He became manager of the Straus store in Casselton in 1907, when Straus moved to Valley City to open a second location. In 1910, the two men switched positions. Two years later, Stern married Adeline Roth, Straus's sister-in-law. Straus retired in 1920, and Stern purchased half interest in the Valley City and Casselton stores. Additional stores were opened in LaMoure and Carrington. Stern had earned a strong reputation in the business community, and became an active member in the Valley City Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Greater North Dakota Association (the North Dakota State Chamber of Commerce), and served for many years as the President of the group.
The Great Depression brought tough times to Stern and his business. The stores in Casselton, LaMoure, and Carrington struggled to be profitable. Stern also grew increasingly concerned with Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitic ideology and the effect it had on his relatives back in Germany. In 1933, his niece Klara Stern wrote to him requesting a visit to America for her and her brother, Erich. Stern requested the assistance of North Dakota Governor William Langer and Senator Gerald Nye in acquiring a visa. Nye was especially helpful in helping Stern cut through the red tape, allowing Klara and Erich to enter the United States in 1934. In 1935, Stern's nephew, Julius, wrote and asked his uncle to arrange for him to come to the United States. Julius also requested that Gustav Stern and his wife, Selma, also receive visas. Again with the assistance of Nye, visas were issued to all three. Gustav and Selma Stern were then reunited with their children, Klara and Erich.
By 1937, Stern's success in acquiring exit visas had spread. He began to receive letters from distant relatives, as well as complete strangers, asking for work affidavits in the United States. Not only did Stern supply the affidavits, he also helped them find work. He secured jobs in North Dakota, Minnesota, Chicago, and elsewhere. Stern sponsored 50 people at one point in time, and another 50 already had jobs.
Individual effort could only go so far and, in 1938, Stern agreed to act as an organizer for the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigration Aid Society. While raising money and sponsors for the Society, Stern also led efforts to send Jews to the Middle East. He spoke to Jewish groups in every major city in North Dakota, as well as in the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota.
In 1940, Stern's brother, Adolf, with his wife and children, who had left Germany and traveled to France, asked for Stern's help. Slowed by red tape, he again asked Nye for assistance. Both Stern and Nye personally contacted Secretary of State Cordell Hull in an attempt to expedite the process. Two weeks before the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the visas were issued.
When America entered the war, contact with much of Europe was completely cut off. Stern's other two brothers, Moses and Julius, as well as Julius's wife Frieda were unable to be saved. All three of them perished in the Holocaust. All told, Stern had assisted 125 Jews in escaping Germany from 1933-1941, although knowledge of his involvement was confined to a few relatives and friends.
Herman Stern then turned his focus back to the clothing business. Not only a successful business leader, Stern was a life-long patron to the Boy Scouts. He was awarded three distinguished service awards from the Boy Scouts: the Silver Beaver, the Silver Antelope, and the Silver Buffalo. Stern was also a member of the Red River Valley Council and the Northern Lights Council. He was a founding member of the North Dakota Automobile Association, and was also instrumental in the creation of the North Dakota Winter Show at Valley City.
Herman Stern died June 20, 1980, in Fargo.
Sources:
Shoptaugh, Terry L. "You Have Been Kind Enough to Assist Me: Herman Stern's Personal Crusade to Help German Jews, 1932-1941." North Dakota History. v64, n4 (Fall 1997): 2-15.
"Herman Stern Dies at Age 92." Fargo Forum. 22 June 1980: A-1.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Additional material was received from:
Edward Stern, Fargo, North Dakota, September 15, 1980; Acc.#80- 666
James Hetland, Grand Forks, North Dakota, August 17, 1985; Acc. #85-1392
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Donation; The acquisition records are unavailable
Related Publications: "You Have Been Kind Enough to Assist Me": Herman Stern and the Jewish Refugee Crisis, by Terry Shoptaugh. Fargo: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 2008.
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Herman Stern Papers. OGLMC 217, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in September 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: World War II ],
[Series 2: Civic Organizations ],
[Series 3: Business ],
[Series 4: Other Materials],
[Series 5: Scrapbooks],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[Series 7: Audio Tapes],
[Series 8: Oral History],
[All]
- Series 4: Other Materials
- Contains mainly correspondence and other materials of a more personal nature related to Stern's life. This series is divided into sub-series that include correspondence with political figures, correspondence with specific individuals, correspondence divided by subject, and miscellaneous correspondence divided by year.
- Sub-Series A: Political Figures
- This sub-series contains Stern's correspondence with various political figures, including North Dakota Governors Fred Aandahl and Norman Brunsdale.
- Sub-Series B: Specific Individuals and Organizations
- Contains correspondence between Stern and various specific individuals and/or organizations.
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Alfred Stern and. unidentified. 1904-1906, 1922, 1927
- Folder 2: Dr. Stephen Wise, 1939
- Folder 3: F.L. Conklin, 1943-1946
- Folder 6: John Cowles - Minneapolis Tribune, 1946-1951
- Folder 7: R. J. Hughes (also clippings), 1948-1961
- Folder 8: Charles Ward - Brown and Bigelow, Minneapolis, 1952-1959, and death notices, 1959
- Folder 9: Henry H. Westler, 1954-1955
- Folder 10: Fred Fredrickson, soil conservation projects in N.D., 1957-1959
- Folder 11: Fred Fredrickson, oil refineries in N.D., 1957-1959
- Folder 12: Michael M. Miller, Lawrence Welk Strausburg reunion, 1965
- Folder 1: Alfred Stern and. unidentified. 1904-1906, 1922, 1927
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Ray Amdurski (1956-1979).
- Folder 3: Correspondence - John Brandt (1945-1953).
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Larry R. Capron (1944-1950).
- Folder 5: Correspondence - R.W. Clark (I 938-1944).
- Folder 6: Correspondence - Fred Fredrickson (1942-1952)
- Folder 8: Correspondence - Robert E. Groom (1944-1955).
- Folder 9: Correspondence - Fred Irish (1938-1951).
- Folder 10: Correspondence - Dr. Irvine Lavine (1932-1942)
- Folder 11: Correspondence - Fred F. Murphy (1930-1939)
- Folder 12: Correspondence - James Milloy and Ruth Harrison (1938-1942)
- Folder 13: Correspondence - Dick Morenus (1937-1942).
- Folder 14: Correspondence - John Moses (1938-1945)
- Folder 15: Correspondence - Evelyn Nachtway (1965-1976).
- Folder 16: Correspondence - National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center (1961-1963).
- Folder 17: Correspondence - Morton Newhoff (1946-1948)
- Folder 18: Correspondence - North Dakota Television Commission (1962-1966).
- Folder 19: Correspondence - Sever Odegard (1938).
- Folder 20: Correspondence - Karl J. Olson (1938-1969)
- Folder 21: Correspondence - Personal (1941-1950)
- Folder 22: Correspondence - Personal (1939-1940)
- Folder 23: Correspondence - Personal (1931-1938)
- Folder 24: Correspondence - Political (1938-1952).
- Folder 25: Correspondence - Charles Redman (1949-1969)
- Folder 26: Correspondence - Sale KVOC Radio Station (1937-1942).
- Folder 27: Correspondence - Salesman of the Year (1964)
- Folder 28: Correspondence - Servicemen (1941-1945)
- Folder 29: Correspondence - Souris Valley Foundation, Inc. (1958-1961).
- Folder 30: Correspondence - Speaking Engagements (1969-1970)
- Folder 31: Correspondence - Trip to Israel (1978).
- Folder 32: Correspondence - War Finances (1941-1945).
- Folder 33: Correspondence - Merle S. Ward (1932-194.5).
- Folder 34: Correspondence - Dr. Frederick Weltzin (1937-1943).
- Folder 35: Correspondence - Masonic Woodbine Project (1969-1974).
- Folder 36: Correspondence - World's Poultry Congress (1938-1939)
- Folder 37: Miscellaneous.
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Ray Amdurski (1956-1979).
- Box 12
- Folder 3: Barnes County Cooperative Creamery (1930-1959).
- Folder 10: Correspondence - Duane N. Crawford (1969-1971)
- Folder 11: Correspondence - German Relatives (1903-1948)
- Folder 14: Family (1953-1971).
- Folder 15: Friends/Acquaintances
- Folder 18: Heart Fund Donation (1948).
- Folder 20: Jewish Activities (1950-1956).
- Folder 21: Marketing Seminar (1965-1968).
- Folder 26: Retailing Organizations (1925-1976).
- Folder 30: Sheyenne Manor and Memorial Hospital (1955-1962).
- Folder 32: Valley City, North Dakota (1961-1971)
- Folder 3: Barnes County Cooperative Creamery (1930-1959).
- Box 14
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Clinton Anderson May 1945 - December 1979
- Folder 2: Correspondence - Reuben Askanase May 1965 - November 1979
- Folder 3: Correspondence - "A" Miscellaneous October 1970 - September 1979
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Barnes County Historical Society
- Folder 5: Correspondence - Blue Cross Blue Shield August 1964
- Folder 6: Correspondence - Temple Beth El May 1957 - November 1979
- Folder 7: Correspondence - George Boardman March 1947 - July 1978
- Folder 8: Correspondence - Dennis Boom October 1958 - September 1976
- Folder 9: Correspondence - Ralph Borman February 1944 - September 1948
- Folder 10: Correspondence - Louis Bromberg November 1935 - March 1975
- Folder 11: Correspondence - "B" Miscellaneous April 1943 - December 1979
- Folder 12: Correspondence - Chamber of Commerce March 1945 - 1979
- Folder 13: Correspondence - Ken Coughlin 1927, 1977
- Folder 14: Correspondence - North Dakota Community Foundation July 1976 - August 1976
- Folder 15: Correspondence - Ralph F. Cook March 1948 - August 1965
- Folder 16: Correspondence - "C" Miscellaneous September 1939 - August 1979
- Folder 17: Correspondence - Al J. Dexter July 1965 - January 1976
- Folder 18: Correspondence - Ray Dobson April 1949 - September 1975
- Folder 19: Correspondence - "D" Miscellaneous March 1900 - December 1979
- Folder 20: Correspondence - Rabbi M.S. Eisemann February 1958 - September 1975
- Folder 21: Correspondence - Jack Evans March 1973
- Folder 22: Correspondence - "E" Miscellaneous February 1943 - December 1975
- Folder 23: Correspondence - "F" Miscellaneous December 1935 - April 1979
- Folder 24: Correspondence - Max Goldberg December 1945 - June 1978
- Folder 25: Correspondence - J.J. Grest September 1937 - February 1955
- Folder 26: Correspondence - Ben Grotte June 1945 - June 1979
- Folder 27: Correspondence - William Guy July 1946 - April 1975
- Folder 28: Correspondence - "G" Miscellaneous October 1940 - October 1979
- Folder 29: Correspondence - Richard Halverson June 1953 - March 1979
- Folder 30: Correspondence - George Hanna March 1945 - June 1974
- Folder 31: Correspondence - Peavey Heffelfinger May 1950 - August 1979
- Folder 32: Correspondence - "H" Miscellaneous July 1943 - October 1979
- Folder 33: Correspondence - Robert Ingstad April 1973 - September 1975
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Clinton Anderson May 1945 - December 1979
- Box 15
- Folder 1: Correspondence - International Multifoods October 1974 - November 1974
- Folder 2: Correspondence - Jewish Historical Project August 1975 - August 1978
- Folder 3: Correspondence - Job Service July 1979
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Orland Johnson March 1961 - December 1979
- Folder 5: Correspondence - "J" Miscellaneous August 1936 - December 1979
- Folder 6: Correspondence - Robert Katz October 1952 - April 19S4
- Folder 7: Correspondence - Eugene Kleinpell August 1944 - April 1973
- Folder 8: Correspondence - Richard Kuhn June 1961 - August 1965
- Folder 9: Correspondence - "K" Miscellaneous May 1953 - December 1979
- Folder 10: Correspondence - Albert Lieberman July 1945 - September 1977
- Folder 11: Correspondence - "L" Miscellaneous August 1929 - December 1979
- Folder 12: Correspondence - Harvey A. Maier September 1953 - June 1967
- Folder 13: Correspondence - George Mason April 1947 - December 1954
- Folder 14: Correspondence - Masonic Temple May 1961
- Folder 15: Correspondence - Mike Mikoda December 1956 - January 1967
- Folder 16: Correspondence - James Milloy December 1941 - March 1971
- Folder 17: Correspondence - "M" Miscellaneous January 1944 - January 1972
- Folder 18: Correspondence - "M" Miscellaneous March 1972 - December 1979
- Folder 19: Correspondence - Northern Pacific Railway April 1943 - February 1979
- Folder 20: Correspondence - "N" Miscellaneous April 1945 - November 1978
- Folder 21: Correspondence - "O" Miscellaneous February 1943 - December 1979
- Folder 22: Correspondence - A.M. Paulson August 1975 - January 1978
- Folder 23: Correspondence - James O. Peterson May 1959 - December 1968
- Folder 24: Correspondence - W.A. Plath February 1960 - March 1960
- Folder 25: Correspondence - "P" Miscellaneous May 1943 - February 1979
- Folder 26: Correspondence - George V. Ricker March 1958 - January 1966
- Folder 27: Correspondence - Lawson H. Riley May 1961 - July 1971
- Folder 28: Correspondence - Joyce Roberts November 1935 - May 1979
- Folder 29: Correspondence - Charles Robertson July 1944 - July 1948
- Folder 30: Correspondence - Sid Rosenberg March 1955 - May 1962
- Folder 31: Correspondence - Ben Roth February 1940 - August 1964
- Folder 32: Correspondence - M.O. Ryan March 1945 - April 1957
- Folder 33: Correspondence - "R" Miscellaneous February 1944 - September 1979
- Folder 34: Correspondence - Salvador Nunez Santana December 1949 - February 1955
- Folder 35: Correspondence - Harold Schafer July 1969 - September 1976
- Folder 36: Correspondence - Richard D. Schnell February 1958 - February 1964
- Folder 37: Correspondence - Soo Line Railways February 1950 - May 1951
- Folder 38: Correspondence - Cheryl Stern November 1959 - October 1979
- Folder 39: Correspondence - Edward Stern June 1954 - September 1975
- Folder 1: Correspondence - International Multifoods October 1974 - November 1974
- Box 16
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Eric Stern March 1950 - January 1968
- Folder 2: Correspondence - Eric Stern January 1970 - January 1973
- Folder 3: Correspondence - Jay Stern June 1947 - April 1958
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Les Stern August 1973 - April 1976
- Folder 5: Correspondence - Renee Stern August 1979 - September 1979
- Folder 6: Correspondence - Dorothy Stickney April 1940 - September 1949
- Folder 7: Correspondence - Ken Stowell April 1945 - November 1979
- Folder 8: Correspondence - "S" Miscellaneous September 1970 - December 1979
- Folder 9: Correspondence - Tom Thorson November 1959 - November 1979
- Folder 10: Correspondence - Ralph A Trubey December 1943 - October 1955
- Folder 11: Correspondence - "'1" Miscellaneous July 1956 - June 1979
- Folder 12: Correspondence - Valley City State College March 1978 - March 1979
- Folder 13: Correspondence - Merle S. Ward January 1946 - July 1949
- Folder 14: Correspondence - Lawrence Welk November 1974 - March 1977
- Folder 15: Correspondence - "IV" Miscellaneous May 1925 - November 1979
- Folder 16: Correspondence - Milton R. Young January 1960 - November 1977
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Eric Stern March 1950 - January 1968
- Box 20
- Folder 1: Biographical Materials on Herman Stern
- Folder 3: Various Correspondence with Herman Stern
- Folder 4: Newspaper Articles about Herman Stern
- Folder 6: Stern Letters-Proofed Copies
- Folder 9: State Department Inspection Report, 1928
- Folder 10: Stuttgart, Germany Consulate State Department Reports
- Folder 11: Correspondence with American Consulate in Germany
- Folder 12: Copy of and Notes on Adolf Stern's Gestapo File
- Folder 13: State Department Inspection Report, 1936
- Folder 14: Herman Stern Correspondence with Relatives (copies)
- Folder 15: Resolution Honoring Herman Stern
- Folder 16: Against the Odds Exhibit Brochure
- Folder 17: Notes on Herman Stern
- Folder 19: Herman Stern Exhibit Script
- Folder 1: Biographical Materials on Herman Stern
- Box 6
- Sub-Series C: Subject Files
- Contains correspondence divided by subject.
- Box 6
- Folder 13: North Dakota Highways, 1937
- Folder 14: State university salary increase drives, 1937 and 1953
- Folder 15: Christmas greetings, 1940
- Folder 16: Correspondence with retailers in butter-short areas, 1946 ("Butter for Clothing")
- Folder 17: "Butter for Clothing," 1946-1947
- Folder 18: National Association of Retail Clothiers, 1956-1964
- Folder 19: Upper Midwest Men's Apparel Club, INC., 1957
- Folder 20: North Dakota National Statuary Hall Commission, 1950-1960
- Folder 21: Vocational Education in North. Dakota, 1961 -1962
- Folder 22: Theodore Roosevelt State Park, 1963
- Folder 23: Correspondence relating to Herman Stern biographical article in the "North Dakotan," April, 1965
- Folder 24: Businessman of the Year Award 1970 - congratulatory letters
- Folder 13: North Dakota Highways, 1937
- Box 6
- Sub-Series D: Miscellaneous
- Contains miscellaneous documents, including Upper Midwest Economic Studies and a report to the Midwestern Governors' Conference.
- Box 6
- Folder 25: D - 1944-1954
- Folder 26: E - 1964-1969
- Folder 27: F - 1947-1950, 1966-1970
- Folder 28: G - 1945-1964
- Folder 29: H - 1945-1971
- Folder 30: J - 1948-1955
- Folder 31: K - 1945-1969
- Folder 32: K - 1944-1952
- Folder 33: L - 1944-1952
- Folder 34: General - 1943-1952
- Folder 35: General - 1944-1950 (mostly letters of condolence)
- Folder 36: General - 1949-1966
- Folder 37: Blank U.S. Visa Applications and other immigration documents, 1940
- Folder 38: CARE materials and auto repair receipts, 1947, 1960
- Folder 39: Upper Midwest Economic Studies, 1962-1963
- Folder 40: Upper Midwest Economic Studies, 1963-1964
- Folder 41: U.S. News and World Report, June 8 and November 9, 1959
- Folder 42: Progress Report to the Midwestern Governors' Conference Committee on Economic Growth on Factors Influencing the Economic Growth Rate of the Midwestern States, 1963
- Folder 25: D - 1944-1954
- Box 12
- Folder 1: Advertisement of North Dakota.
- Folder 2: Awards (1958-1969).
- Folder 4: Booklet Correspondence: "Good Rules to Achieve Pride of Accomplishment" (1959-1970).
- Folder 9: Certificates "American Religious Town Hall Meeting, Inc." (1957).
- Folder 12: Duane F. Crawford Application for Grant about Book on Herman Stern (1970).
- Folder 13: Education Beyond High School Program (1956-1957)
- Folder 19: Herbert Kaufman Editorials on Northwest from the Minneapolis Tribune (1926)
- Folder 23: Miscellaneous.
- Folder 24: Notes on Book by Duane Crawford (1970-1971).
- Folder 25: Philosophy and General Remarks (1953-1968).
- Folder 1: Advertisement of North Dakota.
- Box 13
- Box 16
- Folder 34: Glacier Park Trip 1947
- Folder 35: Hospital Records (Herman Stern) 1971
- Folder 36: Miller's Breadslicer December 1944 - October 1947
- Folder 37: Newspaper Clippings - Greater N.D. Association January 1957
- Folder 38: Newspaper Clippings - Herman Stern and Straus Clothing
- Folder 39: Ken Coughlin Family
- Folder 34: Glacier Park Trip 1947
- Box 20
- Box 6
- Sub-Series A: Political Figures
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: World War II ],
[Series 2: Civic Organizations ],
[Series 3: Business ],
[Series 4: Other Materials],
[Series 5: Scrapbooks],
[Series 6: Photographs],
[Series 7: Audio Tapes],
[Series 8: Oral History],
[All]